The Ministry of Education in Kuwait is grappling with a severe shortage of male Mathematics teachers across various educational levels. This issue has raised concerns about the future of the subject's teaching quality and the availability of supervisors in the coming years.

Acting General Supervisor for Mathematics, Dalal Al-Hajraf, has submitted a proposal to Acting Undersecretary Mansour Al-Dhafiri, outlining four key measures to tackle the crisis.

Proposed Solutions to Address the Shortage

1. Increased Allowances for Supervisors

One of the primary recommendations is to enhance financial incentives for Mathematics department heads and technical supervisors. However, these allowances will be revoked if the recipient transitions to an administrative role.

2. Financial Support for Mathematics Students

To attract more male students to the field, the proposal suggests increasing financial support for those pursuing a Mathematics major at Kuwait University. This measure aims to encourage enrollment in the subject and address the declining number of graduates specializing in Mathematics.

3. Expanding Admissions to Non-Kuwaitis

The ministry is considering opening the Mathematics major at the College of Education to Gulf students and children of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis. This expansion is expected to help fill the gap caused by the decreasing number of male students in the field.

4. Recruiting Civil Engineering Graduates as Mathematics Teachers

In a bid to widen the talent pool, the proposal advocates for accepting civil engineering graduates as candidates for Mathematics teaching positions. This move could provide a new stream of qualified professionals to support the education sector.

Al-Hajraf noted that field observations indicate a continuous decline in the number of male Kuwaiti Mathematics teachers at all educational levels. She warned that if the trend continues, Kuwait could face a crisis in supervisory roles such as department heads and technical supervisors.

The Ministry of Education remains committed to implementing effective strategies to resolve this issue and ensure the stability of the educational process in the country.